Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto has lauded the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, describing it as "a masterpiece of science, engineering, and art". His remarks came during a visit to the facility, which has a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, following his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly.

President Ruto's visit aimed to reinforce Kenya's commitment to collaborating with the Dangote Group on the proposed $17 billion East African Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Lamu. He expressed confidence that the success of the Dangote Refinery would bolster the ambitious project in Kenya, which is set to become a pivotal asset for the East African region.

"Coming here and seeing it for myself, I can confirm that I have seen a masterpiece of science, engineering, with art. To my brother Aliko, congratulations," Ruto stated, recognizing the efforts of Aliko Dangote, the President and CEO of Dangote Group. He emphasized the refinery's potential to drive industrialization, create jobs, and enhance energy security across East Africa.

The Kenyan leader also highlighted the government's full support for the Lamu refinery project, stating that preparations for its groundbreaking ceremony are already complete. He assured that bureaucratic hurdles would be minimized to facilitate efficient execution of the project, which he believes will strengthen regional economic integration.

In a related development, Aliyu Suleiman, Chief Strategy Officer of Dangote Group, revealed that the conglomerate has generated approximately $17 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026 and is on track to achieve a record $36 billion for the entire year. This marks a significant increase from the $18 billion recorded in 2025. Suleiman attributed this growth to sustained investments across various sectors, including petroleum refining and upstream oil and gas.

Dangote Group's Vision 2030 Strategy aims to expand its industrial footprint across Africa, with plans to invest $100 billion in building a competitive business landscape on the continent. Suleiman noted that the upcoming East African refinery will play a crucial role in this vision, contributing significantly to the group's overall growth.

As part of the preparations for the Lamu project, Dangote Group has signed a contract worth over $450 million with Engineers India Limited (EIL) for project management and engineering services. EIL's experience in the successful development of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos will be instrumental in this new venture.

In addition to the Lamu project, Dangote Group is also working on expanding the capacity of its Nigerian refinery from 700,000 barrels per day to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day. This expansion aims to further establish Nigeria as a leading exporter of refined petroleum products and enhance Africa's energy self-sufficiency.

President Ruto's visit underscores the growing significance of African-led investments in the continent's industrial development. With Dangote Group at the forefront, the partnership between Kenya and Nigeria is poised to accelerate economic transformation and strengthen energy security across the region.